JP2007298469A - Monitoring method for gaseous contaminant in air - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To monitor a concentration of a toxic air contaminant substance, by measuring a contaminant substance in air in a living environment under a condition corresponding to a life of the human being and a working condition. <P>SOLUTION: The contaminant substance in air is measured in response to a portion or the like contacting with an environment easy for growth of a mold bacterium such as a periphery of a working environment (computer disk), a bed and a high humidity portion, which are specified portions in an indoor space with the greatest influence on a health care, out of living spaces of the human being, to be compared with various existing environmental reference, and the propriety of an environmental condition in the living space is determined referring thereto, to be monitored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for capturing gaseous pollutants in the air and monitoring the state of contamination, and in particular, taking into account health, in order to measure gonococcus which is an allergy source in daily life, an air sample in a room that is a living space It is related with the method of collecting living thing, monitoring the pollution situation, and maintaining a living environment.

Generally speaking, Taiwan's living space located in the subtropics is a hot and humid environment, and gonococci often occur indoors. In addition, spores scattered from health-damaging organisms such as mites, white ants and cockroaches filling the house and dust filling the room air are sources of allergies in daily life. Since high humidity provides nutrients necessary for bacterial growth, it is most desirable to keep room relative humidity at 60% -65%. In addition to passive dehumidification by a dehumidifier, the building itself is required to have good lighting and ventilation. The indoor humidity can be lowered by the flow of air. The ultraviolet rays contained in the sunlight also have a certain sterilizing effect and can suppress the growth of bad bacteria in the house. Therefore, how to capture and control gaseous contaminants (bioaerosol) such as gonococcus, dust and microorganisms in the air and to make them suitable for daily life is a problem to be solved.
The above mentioned gaseous pollutants generally refer to natural or synthetic substances that affect people, animals, plants or ecosystems, of which the major outdoor air pollutants are in the air. These are harmful fine particles and gases generated with industrial development, such as floating solid particles, hydrogen sulfide, hydrocarbons, nitric oxide and halogenated methane.
On the other hand, the main air pollutants in the room are airborne particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and bacilli in the air. The suspended particles include all organic or inorganic compounds contained in the environment, such as dust, ash, aerosol, and trace metals that vary greatly in chemical composition. The above suspended particles not only adhere to and stimulate the respiratory tract epidermis, but also impede the purification action of the respiratory tract, and may enter the respiratory system and the circulatory system via the lung mucosa. Particles adhering to the lungs will stay in the lungs for a long time, causing chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and other chronic illnesses, which will adversely affect health.

Even when various operations are performed in a preliminarily sterilized room (including a bedroom), actually, the sterilization in the work room is not complete, and there is a possibility that gonococci and microorganisms are still floating in the room. Therefore, it is necessary to capture bacteria and microorganisms before, during, and during the above-described operation, and it is desirable to cultivate them and check whether the room is kept in a sterile state from the presence or absence of bacteria.
The equipment initially used to capture the floating gonococci and microorganisms includes a device for capturing gonococci and microorganisms, a support member that supports the capture device, and a suction device that sucks in air in the working chamber by driving a motor. Known (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-84552, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-13476, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-304663). These facilities deployed in a predetermined room are manually operated by an operator, and an air current is formed around the suction device to capture the gonococcus and microorganisms by the suction device. Then, the air circulating in the working chamber is sucked out of the working chamber, and water vapor is sprayed on the sucked air, so that the water vapor adheres to gonococci and microorganisms floating in the air. A facility capable of detecting gonococci and microorganisms from this water vapor is also known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-283910).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No.58-84552 No. 6-13476 JP 2000-304663 A JP 2000-283910 A

However, if the prior art equipment described in the first to third publications is used in a work chamber sterilized in advance, the air sucked through the suction device is discharged into the room as it is, and the gas flow in the room is changed. May be disturbed and cause gonococci and microorganisms to scatter in the working room. On the other hand, when using the equipment of the prior art described in the fourth publication, there is no risk of gonococcus and microorganisms being scattered in the working room, but it is not possible to identify an appropriate position in the room for capturing the gonococci and microorganisms There is a point.
In view of the above problems, the present inventor provides a method for facilitating the capture of gonococcus and microorganisms at a specific position in the work chamber without causing the gonococcus and microorganisms to scatter in the work chamber, and providing a control method suitable for daily life With the goal. The inventor of the present invention who has continued to pursue the construction of a green (no air pollution, no water pollution, no noise, power saving, energy saving) suitable for human life, collects seasonal samples with conventional equipment. Based on sampling time and equipment characteristics, temperature, humidity, wind speed, airborne particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and the concentration of gonorrhea in the air, etc. Simultaneous measurement of physical environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, carbon dioxide, etc .; suspended particles-PM10: 150 μg / m ³ [American Environmental Agency NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) 24-hour average]; PM2.5: 65μg / m ³ [US Environmental Agency NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) 24-hour average]; Carbon monoxide -9ppm [US Environmental Agency NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standard) 8 hour average]; Carbon dioxide -1000ppm [ASHRAE ( American Society of Heating, Refrigera ting and Air-Conditioning Engineers) 62R (1996 Draft)]] can be adopted as various parameters for monitoring indoor air, and based on these, gaseous contaminants are monitored and adapted to life The environment can be maintained.

In order to facilitate the capture of gonococci and microorganisms in the working room, a single stage Anderson Microbial Sampler (AMS) is used, where people in the living space often perform activities and places that have a large impact from the environment [for example , Guest room (computer desk, A); bed (B), bathroom (C), aquatic plant cultivation room (D), ventilation window (E), outdoor (F)] The flow rate is adjusted with a bubble meter, and air is sucked using a pump at the time of collection to collect a gonococcal sample in the air. The sample flow rate is 25-31 L / min, the collection time is from a few minutes to several tens of minutes, and the collection place is a place where human activities are good.
Ventilation window E is a place that leads to an aquatic plant cultivation room (aquarium) where the working room is highly humid and easy to propagate bacilli, and all other ventilation windows except for this are closed and only this ventilation window is opened. If a sample is collected in this case, it is possible to determine whether or not gonococci and microorganisms flow through the ventilation window. If a sample is taken outdoors, the concentration of gonococci and microorganisms outside the work room can be measured, and comparison with the room is possible.

Two-stage under sensor sampler (Two-Stage Stage Anderson Microbial) equipped with 8.0 and 0.95 μm sieve plates with different pore diameters for airborne contaminants such as airborne particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and bacilli in the air Sampler) is used to capture air contaminants in two stages, upper and lower. Of these, 0-8 μm air contaminants were captured at stage 0 and 0.95-8 μm air contaminants were captured at stage 1. The sampling flow rate is preferably 28.3 LPM (Liter per min) and calibrated by an infrared automatic calibrator prior to each sampling. Prior to collection, the sampler is sterilized with 75% alcohol to prevent contamination and the sampler height is fixed (A-desk height, B-bed height). Nearly, the actual breathing situation can be reproduced. Collect at three flow rates for each sampling position within 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes. Repeat twice at each sampling position and take a sample (Sequential duplicate sampling). Sterilize the sampler with 75% alcohol after collection. After sampling, a 20 ml air sample is taken, put into the medium prepared in the embodiment, sealed with a sealing film, and cultured.
As the reference value of the air quality at the sampling position indoors and outdoors, a management value (such as an environmental standard) created by the relevant organizations outside the country in accordance with regulations may be applied.
For various indoor environmental parameters required for gas measurement, such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, suspended particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and the concentration of gonococci in the air, the dust monitor ( Dust Monitor, Grimm Group., Model 1105) was used to collect indoor samples, and the airborne particle mass concentrations (0-99999μg / m ³ ) with different particle sizes in air (1, 2, 5, 10, 15 μm) Measure.
For temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide measurements, direct reading indoor air quality monitors (Indoor Air Quality Monitors, Metrosonic Corp., Model aq-512) are used to measure temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide at each measurement position. Measure carbon continuously (7 days).
For wind speed measurement, measure directly with a hot-wire anemometer (Thermoair 3), record the measured values (including average, maximum and minimum) every 2 seconds, and set the maximum continuous measurement period to 2 hours. The wind speed can be read up to 0.01m / s. Humidity and temperature can also be measured simultaneously.

In the present invention, unlike a conventional measurement method, the specific place of the indoor space that has the greatest influence on the health management in the space where people live, the surroundings of the work environment (computer disk), the bed or the humidity is high, Measure the pollutants in the air according to the location where the gonococcus is prone to growth, etc., and compare it with various existing environmental standards. The most suitable living environment can be maintained by determining the suitability of the conditions and monitoring.

  Hereinafter, the technical contents of the present invention will be specifically described by way of examples, but the scope of the claims of the present invention is not limited by these examples.

Sample collection and analysis of gaseous pollutants in the air Selected specific collection location [guest room (computer desk, A); bed (B), bathroom (C), aquatic plant cultivation room (D), ventilation window ( See E), Outdoor (F), Figure 1. ] Using a single stage Anderson Microbial Sample (AMS). The flow rate was calibrated with a bubble meter, air was sucked in using a pump, and a bacilli sample in the air was collected. The sampling flow rate was 25-31 L / min, and the sampling time was several minutes to several tens of minutes. This is done once every season, but the summer time is relatively short, while the winter time is relatively long. There are two types of medium: SDA (Sabourand's Dextrose Agar) with and without antibiotics (Chloramphenicol (10 mg / l)), and 20 ml of each sample was placed in each medium. Samples were taken twice for each position (Sequential duplicate sampling). Thereafter, the average value was taken as the concentration of koji molds at each sampling position. Disinfection work was performed with 70% alcohol before and after sampling. After collecting the sample, the medium was placed in a constant temperature culture box and cultured at 25 ° C. for 3 to 7 days. The number of colonies grown on the culture medium after culturing is the number of colonies forming (Colony Forming Unit, CFU). Dividing this colony formation number by the air sampling volume gives the concentration (unit: colony formation number / cubic meter, CFU / m ³ ). At the same time, the type of Neisseria gonorrhoeae was identified by microscopic examination.
The collection of air pollutants in the room was carried out by a two-stage type under-sensor sampler equipped with 8.0 μm and 0.95 μm sieve plates with different hole diameters at the top and bottom.

Samples of gaseous contaminants in the air collected as described above are placed in a medium prepared as described below, 20 ml each, sealed with a sealing film, and stored in a refrigerator at 4 ° C. Culture.
[Preparation of medium]
Malt Extract Agar-MEA (Merck)
Autoclave: Sterilized at 118-121 ℃ 10mins, 15atm.
PH adjustment (Final) pH5.6 ± 0.2 at 25 ℃
[Koji mold culture]
The medium was placed in a constant temperature culture box at 25 ° C. and cultured for 3 to 7 days. The number of colonies grown on the medium after culturing is the number of colonies forming (Colony Forming Unit, CFU). If the number of colonies formed is divided by the volume of air collected, the concentration (unit: number of colonies formed / cubic meter, CFU / m ³ ) can be obtained.
[Concentration of live Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the air]
As clarified from the culture medium after culturing, the medium in which the Neisseria gonorrhoeae colony was obtained was mostly collected from the second stage of the sampler. This indicates that the collected fungus in the ambient air is approximately 0.95-8 μm. Table 1 shows the distribution (CFU / m ³ ) of live gonococcal concentrations in the air at each specific location.

[Floating particle measurement]
An indoor air sample is taken using a dust monitor (Dust Monitor, Grimm Group., Model 1105). The mass concentration (μg / m ³ ) of different suspended particles in the air is measured once every minute, connected to a computer after sample collection, and data analysis (analysis results are shown in each specific position within 24 hours in Fig. 2). (See change diagram of mass concentration of suspended particles.) Table 2 shows the temperature and humidity measured at the same time.

〔Measurement result〕
In order to avoid errors due to human contamination, a blank test was performed in the sampling process as described above, and a test using a blank tube without colonies was performed, including a medium blank sample and a field blank sample. From the results of the dust sample concentration, it was clarified that the dust concentration at the specific position was relatively low and all were below the upper limit, except that the result of the open space outside the laboratory by the dust monitor was slightly high.
Regarding the analysis of gaseous pollutants in the air, it was revealed that the difference in sample concentration repeatedly collected at each specific position was very small. That is, the concentration at each of the collection positions A (computer desk); B (bed), C (bathroom), D (aquatic plant cultivation room), and E (ventilation window) is 1000 CFU / m ³ (NIOSH, 1987; Anthony KYLaw) , CKChau, Gilbert YS Chan. 2001). However, the concentration of F (outdoor) exceeds 1000 CFU / m ³ , which is slightly higher than the other five sampling positions. On the other hand, A (Computer Desk); B (Bed), C (Bathroom), D (Aquatic Plant Cultivation Room), E (Ventilation Window), etc., have low concentrations, but D (Aquatic Plant) The concentration of gaseous pollutants in the air in the cultivation room) and E (ventilation window) is relatively high. If all the other ventilation windows except one ventilation window are closed, the concentration at the sampling position E (ventilation window) will be 335.7 ± 11.6 CFU / m ³ , A (computer desk); B (bed), C (bathroom) Higher, especially more than twice A (computer desk) and B (bed). In addition, when the ventilation window is open, the closer to D (aquatic plant cultivation room), the higher the concentration of fungi in the air flows into the room from the aquatic plant cultivation room. The floor ventilation structure made of moisture-absorbing stones according to the invention filed earlier is suitable for maintaining these environmental conditions because of its air permeability and humidity / temperature control action, and it contributes to energy saving, comfortable and healthy living environment. Seems to be able to provide.

From the above results, the types and concentrations of pollutants in the air differ depending on the places where people live well or where they stay for a long time, such as around the bed. You can see that they are different.
As described above, the present invention employs temperature, humidity, wind speed, suspended particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and the concentration of koji mold in the air as various environmental parameters in the room as described above.
In addition, the measurement points for these pollutants in the air are selected according to the measurement means suitable for each person in the space where people live, and the evaluation method most suitable for the environmental conditions. It has become possible to monitor the state of these gaseous pollutants in the living space in order to be suitable for daily life.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a specific position in a method for capturing gaseous contaminants in air according to the present invention. It is a figure which shows the change of the mass concentration of the floating particle within 24 hours of each specific position in the capture | acquisition method of the gaseous contaminant in the air which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A Guest room (computer desk)
B bed
C bathroom
D Aquatic plant cultivation room,
E Ventilation window
F Outdoor

Claims (5)

Adopting temperature, humidity, wind speed, airborne particles, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and the concentration of gonococci in the air as indoor environmental parameters,
Select one or more specific locations that are highly affected by human activities in the living space as locations to measure these parameters in the room,
Among these, for gonococci, using a one-stage under-sensor modeler, air is drawn through a pump with a flow rate of 25-31 L / min, sampling time from several minutes to several tens of minutes, and an air sample is collected,
Other parameters are measured by physical environment measuring means such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, carbon dioxide according to various environmental standards,
Measure these data every season,
A method for monitoring gaseous contaminants in the air, characterized by monitoring the state of these gaseous contaminants in the living space in order to be suitable for daily life. The equipment used for measuring various environmental parameters in the above room collects indoor air samples, and the mass concentration (0-99999μg) of suspended particles of particles (1, 2, 5, 10, 15μm) with different particle sizes in the air The method according to claim 1, wherein the method is a dust monitor that detects / m ³ ). The specific position is a place such as a ventilation window that leads to a place where the room has the highest humidity in an indoor environment such as an aquatic plant cultivation room and is suitable for growth of bacilli,
As a sampling condition, whether or not gaseous contaminants can flow through the ventilation window by closing all other ventilation windows except the ventilation window and collecting the sample with only the ventilation window opened. Judgment and comparison with the outdoor mass concentration of gaseous contaminants obtained by collecting samples outdoors.
The method according to claim 1.   The device for measuring physical environmental elements such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, carbon dioxide, etc. at the specific position is a direct-reading indoor air that measures temperature, humidity, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide continuously for 7 days. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is a quality monitor.   The device for measuring the wind speed records the measured values (including the average value, maximum value, and minimum value) every 2 seconds, sets the maximum continuous measurement time to 2 hours, and reads the wind speed up to 0.01 m / s. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the method is a direct-reading hot-wire anemometer capable of measuring temperature and humidity.

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